ILA Flashcards
What are the 3 layers of the normal arterial vessel wall?
- tunica intima - simple squamous with connective basement membrane
- tunica media - middle layer of smooth muscle (often thickest)
- tunica adventitia - outermost made of elastin and collagen
What is a plaque composed of?
- necrotic and lipid core
- inflammatory cells (macrophages & T lymph)
- fibrous cap made from smooth muscle
- cellular lipids and debris
What leads to plaque formation?
Chronic or episodic exposure of arterial wall so plaques often form at branching sites
Formation of Plaques?
- damage to endothelial cells cause them to become more permeable. Lipids and inflammatory cells enter and form plaques.
> high levels of LDLs oxidise - macrophages phagocytose LDLs and release lipids as foam cells
> support migration of smooth muscle into
intima and increased collagen synthesis
> die and leak lipids –> fatty streak - foam cells release growth factors so smooth muscle proliferates into fibrous cap
- new vessels form (vasa vasorum) within plaque, expand, and haemorrhage causing plaque expansion
What are modifiable risk factors of atherosclerosis?
- smoking
- obesity
- hypertension
- sedentary lifestlye
- type 2 diabetes
- high cholesteral
What are some non-modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?
- age
- male gender
- family history
- race
- type 1 diabetes
Why does smoking cause atherosclerosis?
Damages endothelial cells due to free radicals, nicotine, and CO
Why does high cholesterol cause AS?
Increase in LDLs means more can oxidise and get stuck
Why does hypertension cause AS?
shearing force causes direct damage to endothelial cells
What race/ethnicity is AS more common in?
South Asian, African, Afro-Caribbean descent
Why is poorly damaged diabetes a risk factor for AS?
superoxide anions and glycosylation products cause high glucose levels in blood and more LDL oxidation. Also, loss of NO so less vasodilation and more platelet aggregation
What primary preventative measures for AS?
- exercise to redistribute LDLs
- more balanced diet to reduce weight
- reduce/stop smoking
What secondary preventatives for AS?
- statins for cholesterol
- antihypertensives
- diabetes control
- social prescribing
- dual antiplatelet therapy
Define anaphylaxis.
An acute allergic reaction to an antigen, to which the body has become hypersensitive. Severe, life-threatening, generalised, or systemic.
What is the criteria that needs to be met to classify a reaction as anaphylaxis?
- sudden onset and rapid progression of symptoms
- life threatening airway/breathing/circulation problems associated with skin and mucosal changes
- occurs within mins and can last a few hours
What are anaphylactoids?
trigger agent acts on mast cell rather than IgE and presents as idiopathic
What are some examples of trigger agents for anaphylaxis?
Food - peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs, lactose, gluten
Drugs - antibiotics, opioids, NSAIDs, anaesthetics
Venom - bee and wasp stings
Hospital - latex, plasters, radiocontrast injections
What type of hypersensitvity reaction is anaphylaxis?
Type 1 so involves IgE antibodies
What do IgE receptors bind to?
mast cells and basophils - antibodies primed so can react quickly when next come into contact with antigen
How is histamine released during anaphylaxis?
cross-linking causes rapid cellular degranulation and liberation of chemical mediators (histamine, protease, proteoglycans, dhemotactic)
What are the physiological responses of anaphylaxis?
- smooth muscle spasm in resp and GI tracts
- vasodilation/increased vascular permeability
- increased mucous secretion and bronchial smooth muscle tone
- decreased vascular tone, capillary leakage, hypotension, arrhythmia, syncope, shock
- histamine makes blood vessels/bronchioles leaky –> causes wheezing and shock due to large fluid loss from circulation
What is rapid assessment of anaphylaxis?
Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disibility, Exposure
What guidelines for treatment of anaphylaxis?
- remove cause
- adrenaline into anterolateral middle thigh
What are the recommended dosages of adrenaline?
adults = 500ug, children < 12 = 300ug, children < 6 = 150ug
How does adrenaline relieve anaphylaxis?
- stimulates beta 1 receptors so HR and contraction increase
- stimulates beta 2 receptors so more bronchodilation
What can you do to alleviate anaphylaxis when more help is available?
- establish airway and high flow O2
- IV fluids
Why might a second dose of adrenaline be needed?
short half life of 2-3 mins
What is the confirmatory blood test for anaphylaxis?
mast cell tryptase - elevated up to 6 hours after
What are risk factors for anaphylaxis?
- those with other allergies
- older age, women > men
- new allergens and pollutants
- increase in antibiotics
- more caesarean births
- more processed diets
These all mean less exposire to healthy gut microbiome and weaker immune system.
What two characteristics should drugs have to be able to act quickly, specifically analgesics?
- Low protein binding - protein binding lowers free concentration so if low then high plasma concentration
- High lipid solubility - allows drug to cross BBB through astrocytes